Effective with the graduating class of 2015, The School District of New Berlin no longer provides class rank for students. As such, the School District eliminated the designations of Valedictorian and Salutatorian and instituted a cum laude recognition of achievement similar to that of colleges/universities.
The changes support SDNB's philosophies that learning is ongoing and continuous; students should view themselves as scholars instead of statistics, and wide numbers of students consistently demonstrate high levels of student achievement. The cum laude program honors students who continually challenged themselves through academic, school participation, maintaining good character and citizenship; broadens the scope of those recognized “with honors” at graduation; and eliminates class rank.
Students who meet or exceed the cum laude criteria will be honored at graduation with a graduation stole and notation in the graduation program.
To become a Cum Laude graduate, students must attain the following:
- Meet or exceed the ACT College Readiness Benchmark in these four categories (can be superscore or SAT equivalent score):
- English (18)
- Math (22)
- Reading (22)
- Science (23)
- Participate in curriculum-related student group or athletics for at least two years of high school:
- Same activity over at least two years (seasons)
- Different activity in two different years (seasons)
- Earn at least 26 credits by end of senior year
- Earn a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher (see designations for levels of Cum Laude Status below) by their 7th semester of high school (1st semester of senior year).
- Have a behavior record free of suspensions from school
- Maintain a 95 percent attendance rate throughout high school (calculation based on the first 7 semesters of high school attendance).
- Complete at least one Advanced Placement course or post-secondary educational equivalent (see designations for levels of Cum Laude status below)
There are three levels of distinction:
Cum Laude
- 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher with at least one Advanced Placement course or post-secondary educational equivalent
- Earn a minimum of 26 credits during high school
Magna Cum Laude
- 3.75 cumulative GPA or higher with at least three Advanced Placement courses or post-secondary educational equivalent
- Earn a minimum of 27 credits during high school
Summa Cum Laude
- 4.0 cumulative GPA or higher with at least five Advanced Placement courses or post-secondary educational equivalent
- Earn a minimum of 28 credits during high school
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